Child molester faces up to 170 years in prison

A jury found Richard Gill, 41, of Lafayette guilty this week of sexually abusing a young girl over the course of several years.

The victim, now 15, told investigators that Gill had forced himself on her and committed criminal deviate conduct on multiple occasions since she was 10 years old.

Based on testimony and evidence that included medical records and video from the defendant’s house, the jury found Gill guilty on three counts of child molesting, a Class A felony; one count of sexual misconduct with a minor, a Class B felony; five counts of child molesting, a Class C felony; and one count of sexual misconduct with a minor, a Class C felony.

The jury found Gill not guilty on two additional charges: attempted child molestation, a Class A felony; and sexual misconduct with a minor, a Class C felony.

Gill’s criminal history includes four misdemeanor offenses in the late 1990s and one Class D felony theft conviction in 2001, according to the Tippecanoe County Prosecutor’s Office.

A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 14. He faces 20 to 170 years in prison.